The Ottawa free trader., 1887-03-19

part oi those grand organizations the
armies Of the Potomac, Tennessee, Cum
Dcrland etc, those mighty engines of
destruction that in the last years OF the
Ha moved To their deadly work with al
most machine nc-likeprcctslon-t crstwhlic
'lizcn was model soldier, and uncom-
plalningly endured untold hardship, brave
y faced danger in thousand forms and
1"roically met death upon thousand
oaltle.ieds
We laud, revere, nay, almost idolize, the
successful leaders in the late war, but it
does seem as though the full measure of
justice and honor had not been bestowed
rpon the private soldier
How did he view the causes and opening
Soi tho war. Let uS see. OF his number
"a large class were of "a different political
party from that which came in power
March 4, 1861.
The party creed OF this large class caused
Them nay, the whole drift of their polti-
cal teachings, the whole force OF their
political instincts had long caused ia IN
10 think, feel and voice a current express
-ion of that time: "This whole trouble
has been brought on by the politicians
especially by the Abolitonists of ,Massa-
"huset,s and the pro slavery hol-hcads OF
South Carolina"
But Notwithstanding the views of this
class as TO the causes of the war; from the
nlne the old flag was fired upon mt Fort
Sumter Till the end, four years later,
ahon sands, aye, tens and hundreds of
thousands OF these men flew to arms and
were as brave as the bravcst. true as the
r.rucst, and in untold numbers sealed their
devotion to flag and country with their
fiic's blood
s5nt OF the private soldier in general.
whether Democrat or Republican Not only
Hld ne surrender agreeable occupation and
cave plOw bench, counter or school; not
only did he leave the place Of his birth and
rear himself from the loved scenes and as
SOclations Of childhood; not only did he bid
Farewell to home and k ndrad, may be for.
eyer, not only did he encounter disease
and death IN myriad forms; not only dld
nc go into battle bravcly; but all this in
she first years of the war he often did in
abe face Of Encouragement, defeat and
disaster.
This was notably true with the Army of
TN Potomac and nothing in the whole his
cory Of the war is finer, noblcr, grander,
fhdn The long, patient persistence and
brave, dogged determination of tina, won-
Hcrful organization under four years strain
81 the most trying circumstances.
At Bull Run in July, 1861. tins army
'"hcn only partly organized and but half
iI cIplined met disaster and disgrace. But
his reverse served only to rouse its ener-
Eies, and it at once set about thorough re-
organization under that skilled organizer
Mcclellan, and after nine months of tcdi
Dus drill and preparation, entered upon the
Peuinsular campaign and worked its la.
DoriDus way from Fort Monroe TO the
Ehickah0miny. But instead OF eute ring
Richmond from here as had been the hope,
thc issue OF seven bloody days of battle,
ending with Malvern Hill, July |, 1862,
3ound the army at Harrlson's Landing on
,he james, crippled, bleeding, exhausted,
nut not crushed the pictim Of divided coua-
eth. But not long was the army allowed
rest, for soon in large detachment IL was
ordered TO JOIN Pope in Northern Virginia !;
where Tor short time IT became identified
with the newly-org anized but short. lived
army o; Virginia, and met misfortune in
5everal engagements late in August 1862
lG1 on the Goth of that month at Groyeton
tho second Bull encountered seri-
JL- defeat.
Beaten, but net overwhelmed, the army
lienly fell back upon Washington, again
.Ha victim of divided councils
y ne enemy, emboldened by success now
-5yd gat u invade the North but the Army
a be Potomac, again under the loved but
uul laultless Mcclellan, interPosed and ~